“You look around and there’s quite a few goalkeepers who are playing into their 40s, and that gives you the belief you can do it.

“I’ll just take it one year at a time, and this time next year we’ll probably be here saying the same thing.”

Pollitt was at Christopher Park yesterday as most of the Latics squad reported back for pre-season duty.

Missing were Hugo Rodallega, Antolin Alcaraz and Hendry Thomas due to international reasons, while Mauro Boselli was another notable absentee.

The Argentinian hotshot spent the second half of last term on loan at Italian outfit Genoa, and he claimed yesterday that a return to Estudiantes – from whom he joined Latics last summer for £6million – could be in the offing.

Speaking to a local radio station, Boselli said: “The idea at first was to stay in Europe, but when I took my vacation I talked to my wife, friends and my agent and decided it was best to return home.

“The coach (Roberto Martinez) told me he wanted me for the next season, but I expressed my desire to return to my country.”

Meanwhile, centre-back Steven Caldwell has signed a two-year contract at Birmingham City, a matter of days after being released by Latics.